Title:
Signatures of axion-like particles in the spectra of TeV gamma-ray sources

Abstract: One interpretation of the unexplained signature observed in the PVLAS
experiment invokes a new axion-like particle (ALP) with a two-photon vertex,
allowing for photon-ALP oscillations in the presence of magnetic fields. In the
range of masses and couplings suggested by PVLAS, the same effect would lead to
a peculiar dimming of high-energy photon sources. For typical parameters of the
turbulent magnetic field in the galaxy, the effect sets in at E_gamma >~ 10
TeV, providing an ALP signature in the spectra of TeV gamma sources that can be
probed with Cherenkov telescopes. A dedicated search will be strongly motivated
if the ongoing photon regeneration experiments confirm the PVLAS particle
interpretation.